Study links alcoholism and caffeine addiction

The two addictions share a common genetic factor, the study suggests.
Baltimore Sun
Most pregnant women have little trouble kicking caffeine once their doctors warn them that the common stimulant found in coffee, tea, cola, chocolate and other foods could endanger their babies' health.
But researchers have found a group who does have trouble -- women with a family history of alcohol abuse.
"It's not just an academic issue," said Dr. Roland R. Griffiths, a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine whose earlier research established caffeine as an addictive substance. "These are people who want to quit, should quit and can't quit."
Griffiths, whose study appears in this month's American Journal of Psychiatry, said the finding suggests that alcoholism and caffeine addiction share a common genetic factor. It also suggests that pregnant women may need extra help avoiding caffeine if they have a family history of alcohol abuse. For them, the standard warnings may not be enough.
About the study
In the study, researchers tracked 44 pregnant women seeking care at a suburban Baltimore obstetrics practice. While most of the women had little trouble kicking caffeine, seven of the women couldn't quit or significantly cut back -- and all of those women had a family history of alcohol abuse.
No woman in the study was actually an alcoholic. A family history was defined as having at least one parent or sibling who was an alcoholic.
Women who consume caffeine while pregnant run a higher risk of miscarriage and stunted fetal growth. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its counterparts in Canada and Great Britain recommend avoiding caffeine during pregnancy.